Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think the bigger issue that the honourable Member is speaking around is the fiduciary responsibility of the federal government for providing health care, generally not just non-insured health benefits, but all health care for aboriginal peoples throughout Canada. That has been an issue that has not been resolved. It is shared by my provincial colleagues at provincial/territorial health ministers' meetings. That issue is always on the agenda. The federal government does not recognize the fiduciary responsibility for health care. They determine that it is a policy issue for them. They provide benefits to aboriginal peoples by policy. We always speak of the inadequacy of the funding, never mind on reserve, but off reserve as well. As you know in the Northwest Territories, we only have the one reserve, but in a lot of the southern jurisdictions, the aboriginal people are coming off the reserves into some of the larger urban centres. The federal government is not recognizing costs for providing services to those individuals. It is an ongoing major issue that remains unresolved between the federal government and provincial/territorial jurisdictions who see it as federal off loading their responsibilities, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
Kelvin Ng on Committee Motion 21-13(5): To Establish Guidelines And Standards For The Operation Of All NWT Health Boards
In the Legislative Assembly on February 24th, 1998. See this statement in context.
Committee Motion 21-13(5): To Establish Guidelines And Standards For The Operation Of All NWT Health Boards
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 24th, 1998
Page 1073
Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
See context to find out what was said next.